Creative methods of communicating to inform women’s health research in primary care: workshops from Blackbird Leys and Blackpool

Lead Applicants: Rebekah Burrow & Polly Kerr

Lead Member: Oxford

Aim:

Improve the ability and capability of our researchers, and department as a whole, to do PPI, using creative methods, with under-served groups in primary care, across two diverse and income-deprived areas.

Objectives:

1. Create and build mutually-rewarding working relationships between researchers and creative experts and PPI experts in Blackpool and Blackbird Leys.
2. Develop and deliver two workshops for researchers at the University of Oxford.
3. Teach researchers two creative methods of communicating about women's health.
4. Teach researchers about two different PPI contributors' experiences of research in women's health, and how considering this can strengthen and improve their PPI.
5. Share what researchers, creative experts, and PPI experts have learned from each other within the NDPCHS, SPCR, and beyond.

Approach:

'Under-served groups' are groups of people who may need more, or benefit less from, research and healthcare. Two key under-served groups in primary care are women, and people living in the most deprived areas. Researchers need to do more to provide equitable care for these people. Creative methods of communication could help researchers and women living in the most deprived areas to work together.

Blackbird Leys (a local authority area in Oxford) and Blackpool both have areas which are some of the most deprived in England. Of 316 local authorities in England, Blackpool is the 3rd most income-deprived. Oxford is the 200th most income-deprived; within Oxford, the Blackbird Leys area has the highest incidence of children living in poverty.  In each of Blackbird Leys and Blackpool we will connect two people. One will have experience in creative methods of supporting communication with patients and the public. The other will be an experienced PPI contributor.

These four experts will develop and deliver two workshops to our researchers. Each workshop will teach 25 researchers:

• a creative method to communicate that we can adapt and use in our work on women's health in primary care
• the insights and recommendations of a PPI contributor that can help us strengthen and improve future PPI practice

We will also gain:

• mutually rewarding working relationships with creative experts and PPI experts in Blackpool and Blackbird Leys, on which we will build.

This will support:

• researchers to build trust with patients and the public in underserved communities in Blackbird Leys and Blackpool.
• researchers to undertake more inclusive PPI in women's health in primary care research

Amount: £5,116